Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), a natural herb that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is commonly used to detoxify the body, especially the liver. The use of milk thistle for treating chronic and acute liver ailments dates back almost 2000 years to the time of Pliny the Elder, who described it as “excellent for carrying off bile”.

Today, milk thistle is still famous for its liver-loving virtues. Studies reported that it could protect the liver by normalizing the level of liver enzymes and prevent further liver damage*.

Health Benefits*: Helps prevent oxidation of fats in liver cells which can lead to inflammation of the liver. Studies have shown the ability to prevent liver fibrosis, by protecting the normal liver cell from turning into a fibrotic cell*.

Reference

1. Pradhan, S.C. and C. Girish, Hepatoprotective herbal drug, silymarin from experimental pharmacology to clinical medicine. Indian J Med Res, 2006. 124(5): p. 491-504.

2. Conti, M., S. Malandrino, and M.J. Magistretti, Protective activity of silipide on liver damage in rodents. Jpn J Pharmacol, 1992. 60(4): p. 315-21.

3. Loguercio, C., et al., Silybin combined with phosphatidylcholine and vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial. Free Radic Biol Med, 2012. 52(9): p. 1658-65.

4. Kim, M., et al., Silymarin suppresses hepatic stellate cell activation in a dietary rat model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: analysis of isolated hepatic stellate cells. Int J Mol Med, 2012. 30(3): p. 473-9.